A few Sunday evenings ago, we gathered together and heard Paul’s entire letter to the Romans publicly read out loud. For over an hour, sixteen different people read sixteen different chapters of a two-thousand-year-old text. After the reading, people weren’t falling asleep or bored. On the contrary, they were excited and encouraged! Imagine sitting down after a long weekend, listening to people read for an hour out of any other book. Before long, people would no doubt fall asleep and be ready to go home. They certainly wouldn’t be smiling ear to ear and talking about how amazing God is.
This is because an incredible power is at work when God’s Word is opened and read. God’s Spirit ministers to God’s people through His Word. Of course, He could have chosen to communicate His Gospel to us in any form. He chose to make it a book.
Living and Active Word of God
This book, the Bible, is the most incredible book in the world. This is for several reasons. God wrote, compiled, and preserved it. Equally important is that it is living and active. At the same time, it knows every person who reads it. Unquestionably, there is power in His Word. Indeed, there is power in the Gospel (Romans 1:16).
Not only is God’s Word the most powerful book ever written, but it is also the only book that will fulfill all of its promises. Without a doubt, no other book can do that. God always nourishes and strengthens His saints through the power of His Word. He also encourages and amazes us with the continual fulfillment of its promises.
Church, let’s continue to read God’s Word. What is more, let’s do it with wonder and adoration for the One it points to, namely Jesus Christ. And ultimately, let’s continue to trust in His promises and obey all He has commanded.
For His glory,
Posted in A Word from the Pastor